Plans for corridor accelerate

WEST VALLEY CITY — The proposed Mountain View Corridor highway will feature a carpool lane and three general-purpose travel lanes in each direction, for the bulk of its length, if it materializes as now planned.

And a transit system — either light-rail mass transit, a streetcar network or a bus rapid transit lane — will parallel the road.

Those are among the details released recently by the Utah Department of Transportation, which continues to study eight alternative concepts for the north-south corridor as part of its Environmental Impact Statement process. The EIS is scheduled for completion next fall.

The project team also released planned interchange locations for both proposed highway routes — one that follows 5800 West and an alternative that aligns with 7200 West before veering over to the 5800 West corridor. Sections of the road, in both scenarios, may be constructed below surface level to enhance safety and ease traffic flow.

Complete details for each concept are available on the Internet at: www.udot.utah.gov/mountainview.

"These concepts will be studied more over the next several months, but we want people to be aware of the direction we're headed so they can comment and draw attention to any factors that we may have missed," said UDOT project manager Teri Newell.

"The goal is to put together an improved regional transportation system plan that will contribute to the quality of life for residents in the MVC area."

The boundaries of the study area stretch from I-80 on the north, 8400 West to the west, the Bangerter Highway and I-15 on the east, and Utah Lake to the south.

Envision Utah and a stakeholders committee — which includes local government leaders, local property owners and conservation groups — have helped the UDOT project team identify the "growth choices" and goals for the corridor.

"An improved regional transit system with both roadway and public transit components can ultimately help increase the travel effectiveness, meet communities' growth goals and save residents time, money and stress," Newell said.

In both road alternatives, the highway would have one high-occupancy vehicle lane and two general-purpose lanes in each direction from the start of the road at I-80 to U-201. From U-201 south into Utah County, the road would have one carpool lane and three general-purpose lanes in each direction.